EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is a selection of the responses from readers of MDJOnline.com in reaction to recent MDJ stories.

Editorial: “The Obama Downgrade” …

Jane Balfour wrote — What a useless article. All blather and no solutions, just like the Republicans and Tea Party. Get specific. What’s your solution, in detail?

Reagan-rules wrote — According to Republicans and the Tea Party the only way to end a recession and improve the economy is to cut, cut, cut. Why not? It worked for Herbert Hoover.

Say what! wrote — According to Speaker Boehner, I got 98 percent of what I wanted and am very happy with the budget deal. It must have been that nasty Obama 2 percent that downgraded our credit and the subsequent stock market collapse. Well done Republican Tea Party, well done!

Nicole Shays wrote — If we are to sustain an economy that has an ability to grow we will certainly need much more revenue than the president was asking for, and the country is sorely in need of education on the absolute need for and wise use of taxes from all of our citizens, not just middle class ones but from corporations and those who inherit non-productive wealth.

Spend it All wrote — As many of the folks here argue so eloquently, it’s not the nearly $15 trillion in debt with $2 trillion more on the way over the next 18 months that’s the problem — its the evil conservatives who want to try to stop the madness without taxing the economy into another recession. Anyone with an ounce of reason and a basic knowledge of high-school math (which excludes most Democrats) understands that the government cannot possibly, under any circumstances pay for the entitlements it has “promised” to voters. No tax increase on 2 percent of the population will come close to filling the gap, no tax increase on 98 percent of the rest of the population will fill the gap, doing nothing and borrowing until the credit card runs out will not fill the gap. So stay ignorant, folks. Keep fighting those who are trying to save your future and encourage your worst enemies in the Democratic Party to enslave you.

Marv sells wrote — It baffles me to read such garbage. I don’t see how a reasonable person would think that the way out of debt is to reduce your spending on fundamentals and doing without. Would a business that has a bad quarter or year begin to reduce what they have? If this were the case restaurants would begin not use their air conditioning and maybe sell off their table and silverware; not enough? Maybe start taking out their tables and not buying food. Is that a viable restaurant if it does that? Come on, get in the game with where the world is.

Jason wrote — Sick to death of hearing this cheap-out approach on everything including, for heaven’s sakes, education.

Mike Holzknecht wrote — The Tea Party has worked too hard to be ignored by the MDJ. They showed inflexible unity in voting against something they did not understand. Give them the credit that they justly deserve.

Rjsnh wrote — What you call the “Obama downgrade” is so absurd. If I were to downgrade President Obama for anything it would be for his compromises with Republicans who continue to argue that if we make the rich richer we’ll all be better off ... you know, the trickle down theory.

Indian Joe wrote — Jane, you criticize what others say because you want details. What are your details and solutions, except of course, “soak the rich”? I would think people with even an iota of common sense would eventually learn that it doesn’t matter how much the people are taxed, it will never be enough — whatever they take in is spent, in order to keep their jobs. This deal could have been made quickly with no problems — as long as Obama and the Dems got what they wanted. So why not just give them a blank check to do with as they please. Wonder what kind of shape the country would be in after just one year of this type thinking?

Banks seeks pay raise for Cobb school employees …

eCobb Dad of 3 wrote — Typical Banks. Stirring the pot once again. He now tries to correlate the calendar issue with a pay raise for the teachers. The two issues are mutually exclusive. His true motive for the balance calendar is now revealed. He is advocating for the teachers and NOT his constituents. Sorry to say but the teachers and the CCSB member work for us and not the other way around. We don’t and didn’t want the balanced calendar and thus changed the system with our votes at the ballot box. (Not some silly monkey survey mind you, but a real election.)

Just Wait wrote — I’m sorry, but right now is not the time to be talking about raising anyone’s salary.

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